The Press., 1887-03-31
Issued Every Thursday Evening.

Even the cat may look in the face of the king, and the truth should be spoken,
 whether men will hear or forbear Time alone does justice to man, and not al- ways then, until time is resolved into it's | eternity .iS atTnf -1tuf4twFH NR*,ett speak this morning without expecting to be exhaustive in research or profound in conclusions, but rather when the event of the death of such a man moves our hearts to the consideration of some of
 those themes with which his life was so largely identified. We forget so quickly
 that it seems necessary that we use the
 Instantaneous process, ; and photograph
 the present event quickly in our minds, if
 we would gain its lesson. Otherwise to- day crowds out all memories of yesterday,
 and in a moment more tomorrow has be- come to-day, and now has been resolved
 into the past.
 I was for some time, in the years ago, frequent listener to Mfr. Beecher. I owe
 10 him personally not a little, yet am
 very far from being his worshipper, or im- agining him infallible. I do not feel
 adequate to portray his life, his character,
 his work. do,not know the man who is
 thus capable. Therefore, where all must fail, need not tremble in the presence of my greater failure. But do not under
 take, as have already said, any profound
 attempt of this sort I rather wish to re-
 fer to his place in the world, more particu-
 larly the religious world, and to the char acter of the influence exerted and left be-
 hind because of his career. The Lublic journals will tell us all about his life, and
 probably, with amendments, alterations and additions, shall, with what have already said, and the inferences fairly drawn therefrom, con6ne myself to just
 two propositions connected with his life's
 work, and touching personalities and de-
 tails only as necessary in bringing out
 what wish to upon this subject. In the first place, begin with that phase of ob- jection raised by some of his critics, and
 which is set forth in one of them himself,
 a star of some prominence in the religious heavens, very nearly in this language, "No' one man has probably done more than he
 to bring the churches to Q condition of de- parture from the old standards, which in
 some respects, with multitudes of others,
 we have so deeply deplored." In my opinion, this is in measure true, but not
 to the extent that many have thought.
 We live in a time of inquiry. The great public is not content to wear second hand clothes, and is quick to ask, why should
 this be done rather than that .. Q .s8asl
 The world asks about to-day and to- morrow, and not so much of yesterday and the past. Something as the resident of Illinois, when that was 'tout west, said
 to the young man who, fresh from New England, and perhaps Boston, was boast
 ing of his family--its ancestry, the great deeds of his fathers, etc., ''We do not care for your high old grandfatherisms here,
 we want to know what you are." f..rs The substance of this is, think, wisely
 and more truthfully stated when we say
 Mir. Beecher was very conspicuous figure in freedom of thought ,and as great in free ldom of expression. With his native force, Ia decided leaning toward great mercy, and an over-forbearance toward the erring, with impassioned spirits and delivery, be gave sharpness to his utterances which cut deeper and aroused more attention and greater opposition than he at the time ap.
 prehended. doubt not he did exert an
 influence toward lily defined views, loose | views, and in results damaging In this line and to this extent [ agree with the
 critic mentioned. Some of the reasons for thIs, and mitigating the severity of any
 possible condemnation will appear farther
 on. Mir. Beecher's quickly acting mind,
 blazing with illustration, expressing in
 words to religious clrcles new statements,
 or newly formed statements, relating to
 the gospel and what it is, led not a few to
 the charmed circle of his presence, and
 his church, called Plymouth, was really Henry Ward Beecher's church.
 II Another reason existed for this local
 ard also the larger success, which will,
 too, appear farther on. His visible suc-
 cess turned the heads, or was in part the
 influence turning the heads of not few
 ministers. And not a few very small Beechers, of whom 1t would take so many
 to make one genuine, that will not use } time to enter into calculation in this re- gard, these very small Beechers have gone up and down our land, with a chip labelled "heresy" upon their shoulders, and in spirit, and sometimes in words, demand. ing orthodoxy to knock it off. Some, fail.
 ing to getinto quarrel in demanding the ' ological fight, have even piteously whined because somebody didn't do it. This has produced it's effect upon the churches } and sickly namby pambyism has found
 it's way among them in 0 measure, but mol } to so large an extent, I am inclined tc think, as many have feared. This has leG } to an advertising and using--forgive tho figure-of good many cheap wares, man , ufactnred in so-called religious workshops } and labelled with the name of religion it. , self. In this manner religion has been } degraded to a very common morality emasculated of the sterner and better vir. l tues of fixed and divine principles.
 kind of goodishness has been incul 7 cated about as fitly calculated to tear dowr the strongholds of sin, as bird-shot would be to effect the capture of an iron clad The exhortation "to be good, " in many sin-stricken presence, would simply bt : laughed to scorn, while plain words about
 sin, true words about redemption, and , sweet words of gospel invitation, serve tC capture hearts, subdue passions, and save men. fads.5 l.
 Theloose system has been carried so fal by lily balanced men and cranks in a so called science, that religion without { bible, which they profane by using as textbook, is no longer a strange thing : and religion without a Christ is fashion able in some circles, and religion withou God, even, is professed by some, whc
 say that. they are christians This is [ ' statement of the extreme, running mad, O. 7 those who, leaving the parental shelter o l "Our Father" have become wandering
 vagabonds in the desert of irreliRion } These are chiefly destructionists, who tea [ down and never build up, and such per } sons, everywheresand in the long run, d, ] a..great deal of damage in the world.
 Every earnest christian -healt -canno } help crying gout to these, take not from m, } that which I have, unless you give m something better in place And in thi -l-S 1s. ..s~